Is the Ram 1500 finally catching up with the competition?

Mike Up wrote:

hvac wrote:
Let's talk innovation. Small turbo v6fuel efficient diesel. 8speed automatic. Air suspension all 4corners. Seems others need to catch up.

Yeh, it makes a good crossover. Ford and chevy want to keep leaf springs for their better handling while towing or carrying a load, and provide engines that have good torque while having enough horsepower to get out of their own way.

6 speed trans were the best of all worlds, torque and fuel economy and only slightly busy. 8 - 10 speeds are very busy to gain fuel economy and I prefer a less busy transmission.

Chevy and Dodge have shown their 8 speed transmission provide slower or equal times than their 6 speed transmissions but that only makes sense with more shifts.

Fords new 10 speed and Ecoboost are quicker than the previous but the new Ecoboost added 50 lbs torque and higher horsepower to offset the shifting loss.

I'd rather have 6 speed. Performance, fuel efficiency, and tolerable shifting busyness.

Have you driven a RAM with the 8 speed?

Lol um Nissan Titan. Haven't had a chance to drive the new Ford/Chevy 10 speed. The 8 speeds have a different shift mechanism/technology a much faster shift and have better managed decisive shift management & superior gear spacing. I had the same "busy" concern until I actually started towing with one. The 8 speed is hands down superior to the 6 speed. Drive & tow with one & you will agree. It's as big of an improvement only vastly different than was going from the 4 speed to the 6. Any mountain towing with some weight will quickly prove this out. But as far as the number of gears going from 8 to 10 is said to be diminishing return by ZF the 8 speed rear & 9 fwd transmission manufacturer. But I'm glad Ford/Chevy did the 10 as they needed to simply to imploy new technologies so as not to allow competition to keep a competitive advantage.

Agreed the RAM will haul as much as other standard axle 1/2 tons & generally handle & drive with weight better than 1/2 ton leaf spring trucks as long as said said coil spring truck has axle to frame air bag dampening & support. I was just poking fun at the "manufacturer payload" as you say. Last I knew they actually had slightly higher standard axle weigh rating than any of the other half tons.n

Mike Up wrote:

transamz9 wrote:

VernDiesel wrote:
Well Fords got aluminum & a 10 speed, and a revised 302 riding on stick slip bounce & dart leaf springs that go back to horse & buggy.

Chevy had a revised SBC & the joint 10 speed also riding on leaf springs.

Seriously the 3.5 EB is a heck of a motor, but just like any gasser is hard on fuel when worked like a truck. Also GMs DI 6.2 is a heck of a motor... But to be fair RAM has the legal payload of a bicycle handlebar basket.

Toyota has known dependability. You just can't afford to drive them because they suck more fuel than anything else.

Nissan Tundra.. No they have not gone the way of The AMC Rambler. Yes they still make them & someday they are going to sell one. They have a new diesel.. It sucks fuel like the big diesels but doesn't make anywhere near the power.

Nissan don't build a Tundra that's why you don't see them.

Ram will haul just as much as the others, their "legal payload" is just as much as the others. The "manufacturer payload" is the only thing that is lower.

What are you calling legal and manufacturer payload?? Especially since these aren't commercial DOT trucks and none of that matters, only the weight rating of the plate. The manufacturer's GVWR and axle ratings can be used in civil court though.

This post can be used in civil court.......

transamz9 wrote:

VernDiesel wrote:
Well Fords got aluminum & a 10 speed, and a revised 302 riding on stick slip bounce & dart leaf springs that go back to horse & buggy.

Chevy had a revised SBC & the joint 10 speed also riding on leaf springs.

Seriously the 3.5 EB is a heck of a motor, but just like any gasser is hard on fuel when worked like a truck. Also GMs DI 6.2 is a heck of a motor... But to be fair RAM has the legal payload of a bicycle handlebar basket.

Toyota has known dependability. You just can't afford to drive them because they suck more fuel than anything else.

Nissan Tundra.. No they have not gone the way of The AMC Rambler. Yes they still make them & someday they are going to sell one. They have a new diesel.. It sucks fuel like the big diesels but doesn't make anywhere near the power.

Nissan don't build a Tundra that's why you don't see them.

Ram will haul just as much as the others, their "legal payload" is just as much as the others. The "manufacturer payload" is the only thing that is lower.

What are you calling legal and manufacturer payload?? Especially since these aren't commercial DOT trucks and none of that matters, only the weight rating of the plate. The manufacturer's GVWR and axle ratings can be used in civil court though.

hvac wrote:
Let's talk innovation. Small turbo v6fuel efficient diesel. 8speed automatic. Air suspension all 4corners. Seems others need to catch up.

Yeh, it makes a good crossover. Ford and chevy want to keep leaf springs for their better handling while towing or carrying a load, and provide engines that have good torque while having enough horsepower to get out of their own way.

6 speed trans were the best of all worlds, torque and fuel economy and only slightly busy. 8 - 10 speeds are very busy to gain fuel economy and I prefer a less busy transmission.

Chevy and Dodge have shown their 8 speed transmission provide slower or equal times than their 6 speed transmissions but that only makes sense with more shifts.

Fords new 10 speed and Ecoboost are quicker than the previous but the new Ecoboost added 50 lbs torque and higher horsepower to offset the shifting loss.

I'd rather have 6 speed. Performance, fuel efficiency, and tolerable shifting busyness.

VernDiesel wrote:
Well Fords got aluminum & a 10 speed, and a revised 302 riding on stick slip bounce & dart leaf springs that go back to horse & buggy.

Chevy had a revised SBC & the joint 10 speed also riding on leaf springs.

Seriously the 3.5 EB is a heck of a motor, but just like any gasser is hard on fuel when worked like a truck. Also GMs DI 6.2 is a heck of a motor... But to be fair RAM has the legal payload of a bicycle handlebar basket.

Toyota has known dependability. You just can't afford to drive them because they suck more fuel than anything else.

Nissan Tundra.. No they have not gone the way of The AMC Rambler. Yes they still make them & someday they are going to sell one. They have a new diesel.. It sucks fuel like the big diesels but doesn't make anywhere near the power.

Nissan don't build a Tundra that's why you don't see them.

Ram will haul just as much as the others, their "legal payload" is just as much as the others. The "manufacturer payload" is the only thing that is lower.

Well Fords got aluminum & a 10 speed, and a revised 302 riding on stick slip bounce & dart leaf springs that go back to horse & buggy.

Chevy had a revised SBC & the joint 10 speed also riding on leaf springs.

Seriously the 3.5 EB is a heck of a motor, but just like any gasser is hard on fuel when worked like a truck. Also GMs DI 6.2 is a heck of a motor... But to be fair RAM has the legal payload of a bicycle handlebar basket.

Toyota has known dependability. You just can't afford to drive them because they suck more fuel than anything else.

Nissan Tundra.. No they have not gone the way of The AMC Rambler. Yes they still make them & someday they are going to sell one. They have a new diesel.. It sucks fuel like the big diesels but doesn't make anywhere near the power.

Let's talk innovation. Small turbo v6fuel efficient diesel. 8speed automatic. Air suspension all 4corners. Seems others need to catch up.

I bought a used Rambler American once. Junk. I'll never buy another one.

Well fanboy you can look at every repair shop in Amerca & find more Chevrolet products than anything else. Not a Chevy hater here just saying. My 2014 Ram 252,000 miles delivering TTs mostly over the western grades. Repairs a light switch, a $158 lift pump & an alignment. True the motor is an Italian diesel but the truck is still Ram. I am sure someone has done that with a Chevy just saying.